CHRIST IS BORN!!! Father Steve, Father Gregory, the Parish Council, and Staff hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Advent, and a glorious Christmas celebration. We wish you and yours a very HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!
LITURGICAL CALENDAR – every Sunday 8:30 Orthros and 10:00 Divine Liturgy – please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for other services.
GENERAL UPDATES:
- Parish Council Elections: Thank you to everyone who participated in our Parish Council election. We want to congratulate newly elected Parish Council Members who will serve their 2026-2027 term: Janice Calomiris, Diane Cerniglia, Eftuhia Frankowski, Nicholas Margarites, Carole Verner, and Nicholas Zuppas. We welcome back the returning 2025-2026 Parish Council Members Margo Anderson, Thomas Bajis, Alec Economakis, Amanda Lockhart, George Wallace, and Ioannis Xanthos. We also want to thank retiring Parish Council Member, Peter Antonoplos for his many contributions.
- December Ministry Activities: Our Cathedral’s December calendar was filled with a multitude of ministry activities. To highlight a few, they included a FOCUS: Presentation with Steven Chrisoforou, GOYA: 2025 Basketball Reunion, YAL: Christmas Party, GOYA: Wreathes Across America Community Service, PHILOPTOCHOS: Christmas Luncheon, AHEPA: Byzantine Concert, LA/JOY/GOYA: Christmas Caroling, LA/JOY/GOYA: Santa’s Workshop, and Greek School Christmas Program.
- Strategic Initiatives: The Clergy, Parish Council, and Staff are planning several new initiatives associated with SAINT SOPHIA SUNDAYS, where different ministries will be hosting a wide range of events for parishioners young and old, families, and those that are new to our Cathedral and community. We will be unveiling them over the next several weeks and months. To start, our Saint Sophia Children’s Choir will begin meeting every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. Look for more details and emails and our bulletin.
- Saint Sophia Cathedral Veterans Album: Several years back we started to assemble information celebrating all Saints Sophians who served our country. We want to continue and complete this effort, and we are looking for individuals who will help assemble pictures and data, compose text, and finally help publish this very important historical document. What a grand way to celebrate our country’s 250-year anniversary and our Saint Sophia history! If you’re interested in helping please contact Demo Kolaras.
- 2026 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese American Ecclesiastical Calendar: Your calendar will be mailed out with your 2026 stewardship renewal.
- Faith Direct has now merged with ParishSOFT: For your convenience you can manage ALL your donations online. ParishSOFT will email your receipts and year-end statements. Please take this opportunity to administer your stewardship and all donations (Weekly Offering, Candles, Memorial, Saints, Saturdays of Souls, Easter, Easter Lilies, Christmas, Christmas Card, Poinsettias, Narthex, Preserve & Protect, etc.) with this online Saint Sophia giving opportunity. https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/FD-408
MINISTRY AND EVENT CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:
- January 10 – Greek School Vasilopita Cutting
- January 11 – Parish Council Oath of Office after the Divine Liturgy
- January 11 – Sunday School and GOYA Vasilopita Cutting after the Divine Liturgy
- January 11 – Sunday School Teen Talk after the Divine Liturgy
- January 11 – Meraki Laographic Arts Fundraiser 12 Noon Buffet
- January 18 – Sunday School Face Time (PreK- 2nd grades) after the Divine Liturgy
- January 25 – Philoptochos General Membership Meeting after the Divine Liturgy
- February 1 – GOYA: Greek Dancing with Joy/Little Angels after the Divine Liturgy
- February 1 – Alexandros J. Alexandrou Three Hierarchs Award after the Divine Liturgy
- February 1 – YAL Fellowship and Discussion with Father Gregory 1PM at Zorba’s Café with lunch available for purchase.
- February 7 – Men’s Social Hour at 6PM
- February 8 – Philoptochos talk “The World through Gods Eyes” with Father Steve after Divine Liturgy in FJ Hall
- February 11 – Galentine’s Wine Night at 6PM
- February 14 – Doughboys Valentines Event (Tsoureki Time) at 9AM
- February 14 – YAL Orthodox Young Adult Matchmaking Valentine’s Day (ages 21-40) 6 PM (optional Vespers before)
- February 15 – Acolyte Cookout after the Divine Liturgy
- February 21 – Mardi Gras Community Dance at 6PM
- February 23 – Pure Monday – 11AM Lenten Retreat/Luncheon and 2PM The Service of the Great Compline
SSC MINISTRIES – WEEKLY AND MONTHLY RECURRING EVENTS: Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for updates.
- Father Steve’s Bible Study – meets October-May via zoom Tuesday evening at 7-8 PM.
- ***NEW Friday Nights with Mother of God – service at 6 PM, refreshments, fellowship, and discussions to follow with YAL. Others are welcome.
- Baking Committee – meets Tuesday 9:30 AM-2:30 PM during the fall, winter and spring months in the FJ Hall Kitchen, where delicious Greek sweets are made. Lunch is provided.
- Philoptochos Food Drive – the first Sunday of the month. Place your donated dry foods and cans in the bins located in FJ Hall.
- Saint Sophia Table – meets in the FJ Hall Kitchen the second Saturday of the month, where food is prepared for those in need. Food Prep 11 AM-1 PM and Service 1-3 PM (formally St. Stephen’s Table).
- GOYA Basketball Practice – typically every Monday 8-9:30 PM through the season.
- Good Company – Kali Parea – the third Thursday of the month (September- November and January- April), with a guest speaker or activity following lunch at 12:30 PM in the EAC Ballroom.
- Parish Council Meetings – the third Thursday of the month.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT:
SAINT SOPHIA PHILOPTOCHOS (Friends of the Poor) – HELPING THOSE IN NEED – COLLECTIONS and DONATIONS
- HUMAN TRAFFICKING/ARISTEVI FOUNDATION: The Aristevi (“to Excel”) Foundation addresses the needs of those who have been trafficked and hindered from completing their schooling because of their circumstances. The mission is to help support trafficked survivors move forward in their lives from getting an education to having a job and a career. This past year’s most generous donation from Odd Fellows saved a young woman from a life of prostitution. Funds were used for the young woman to complete her college education, receive counseling, and receive guidance on how to present herself in a job interview. At her college graduation, the young woman held up a double picture frame. The first picture was a mug shot from when she was arrested for prostitution; the second was her graduation picture. What a profound difference the Odd Fellows made in this person’s life!
- HOUSE OF RUTH: We provide financial and hands on support to this DC-based facility that offers support services to women, children, and families who are victims of domestic abuse. House of Ruth named the Saint Sophia Philoptochos as this year’s winner of their “Volunteer of the Year” award for the extensive hands on and monetary contributions we made to this area of great need.
- LA CASA BAG LUNCHES: La Casa is a permanent supportive facility for men who have previously been homeless and is under the auspices of Friendship Place, the largest DC provider of housing services. Philoptochos recruits volunteers from the various ministries and from our larger parish community to prepare bag lunches one day each month.
- FOOD PANTRY: Philoptochos, in collaboration with the Young Adult League (YAL) conducts a monthly food drive which is normally held on the first Sunday of every month. All food and toiletries are delivered to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Food Pantry for distribution to those in need.
- SAINT SOPHIA’S TABLE: Sponsored by the Saint Sophia Cathedral’s Young Adult League, this charitable effort is an intergenerational project to prepare hot lunches and hygiene kits for the Downtown Daytime Services Center. Volunteers meet on the second Saturday of every month in Father John Hall. The Center is another facility that provides donations to those who are homeless. Philoptochos provides financial support for food supplies and is an active participant in these Saturday sessions.
- BACKPACK DRIVE AND WINTER WARMTH: In another collaborative effort with YAL and intergenerational initiative, Philoptochos manages an annual backpack drive. Backpacks are distributed to the children of the families assisted by Friendship Place. Later in the fall, we collect donations for Winter Warmth, to provide winter clothing for Friendship Place’s various programs for those in need.
- PARTNERS FOR KIDS IN CARE: In partnership with the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency, Philoptochos collects donations for new clothing for foster children ages 5-12 (kindergarten-8th grade).
- REQUIRED DONATIONS/NATIONAL REQUESTS; In addition to our “hands on” collections and donations, we also provide monetary donations to a number of charities identified at Philoptochos District and National levels. Also, we provide monetary donations for unexpected emergencies, such as for Maui Flood Relief and for Wildfires in Los Angeles and Greece.
- SOCIAL SERVICES: Philoptochos provides confidential emotional and financial assistance to those in need who reach out to one of the Fathers or to the Church Office. We provide support for such needs as funeral expenses, payment of utility bills, rent, and food.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Yours in Christ,
The Saint Sophia Parish Council
